## RESOLUTION

Source: PSS vol. 51

ON I. V. STALIN'S TELEGRAM

Moscow, Kremlin, to Lenin

The situation at the front near Minsk is for now unsatisfactory. Near Dvinsk it is no better. Near Lubenets it is even worse.

Our units are exhausted. Their reserves can be utilized only in a month's time. The opponent does not wish to wait. Pilsudski is sitting somewhere around Molodechno and boasting of his intended capture of Minsk. The Polish plan: to occupy territory up to the Dnieper, and then set in motion Russian White Guard units, after first cobbling together some Russian government, something like a Rodzianko government. It is reliably known that a Russian corps is already being formed in Warsaw. Right now we could set things right if You would provide one properly equipped division. I fear that You will not do this now, and later, in a month's time, three divisions will not suffice. We cannot remain where we now stand, for Minsk and Dvinsk will fall for nothing. Therefore we have decided to launch an offensive, piecing and reinforcing units on the move. It is possible that something good will come of this. The national units somewhat complicate matters; they should be replaced. The army commander is worthless, only spoiling things.

I have not yet received Your reply to my letter from Smolensk. I request that this cipher be read to Sklyansky. I shall be in Smolensk in a few days.

Stalin

Secret

To Smilga:

This must be discussed carefully in the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic*.

18/VII. Lenin

* Lenin's reply telegram to I. V. Stalin dated 18 July is found in the present volume, the following document. Editor's note.

Written 18 July 1919

First published in 1959

in Lenin Miscellany XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript